Craft: Apple-Cinnamon Dough

Spicy Dough for Seasonal Decorations

How to Make Apple-Cinnamon Dough

Spicy dough is commonly used to make Christmas ornaments, but it can be used to make small spicy-smelling decorations to celebrate all seasons or events.

Since the dough has cinnamon, the color of the decorations will be cinnamon-brown. Just the name of the color makes me imagine a pleasant cinnamon smell.

Bible References

Philippians 4: 18 “But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God”. NAS

2 Corinthians 2:14 “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.” NAS

Ideas for Different Seasonal Celebrations:

Easter

Egg shapes with different colored ribbons or yarn. Ribbon with designs, such as flowers or eggs.

Mothers Day

Hearts or any shape created by a child. Several narrow colored ribbons could be used for each decoration. A ribbon with tiny hearts.

July 4th

Stars with a ribbon with red, white, and blue stripes.

Christmas

Stars to represent the Bethlehem star and any other shape. Red and/or green ribbon.

How to Make Apple-Cinnamon Dough

Teaching Tips: I suggest that you mix the dough at home. Determine how much each child will need to make the decoration, and then put this amount in a small plastic bag (sandwich bags work well). You could make the dough in advance and keep it refrigerated.

I confess that I’ve forgotten how many decorations the following recipe will make. I’ll put applesauce on my grocery list and do a little experimenting. Of course it will depend on the size of the decorations. I’ll post this information as soon as possible.

Teaching Tip: Make extra dough for possible visitors.

What to Do

1. Combine 1 cup of applesauce, 1 cup of ground cinnamon, and 2 tablespoons of white school glue in a large bowl.2. I use my hands to thoroughly mix these materials until a thick dough is formed.

Possible Problems

* If the dough is too dry, add small amounts of applesauce until the dough can be easily rolled out.
* If the dough is too wet, add more cinnamon.

How to Shape the Spicy Dough

1. Wax paper makes a good surface for kids to lay their ornament on. Using a permanent marker, write each child’s name on the wax paper. This will help to identify the decorations later.

2. Since the dough will not be eaten, kids can shape the spicy dough with their hands. Even so, have the kids to clean their hands with a moist wipe.

To keep the dough from sticky to their hands, they need to sprinkle a little cinnamon on their hands.CAUTION: To keep the ground cinnamon from being a breathing problem, add a tablespoon of flour to about 1/2 cup of cinnamon. Mix thoroughly and pour this mixture into a large bowl. Kids can press their hands on the surface of the mixture, and then slowly rub their hands together to spread the material around. Now they are ready to shape their decoration.

3. The ornaments need to be about 1/8th of an inch thick. If they are too thick it will take a long time to dry.4. Whilethe dough is wet, kids need to use a drinking straw to cut a hole in their decoration. This is where the ribbon will be attached.

Teacher Tips:1. If you have adult helpers, divide the decorations so that each only has a few decorations to take home and dry.

2. Make extra decorations–you never know who God will send to your next class meeting.

How to Dry the Spicy Decorations

1. Spray a cookie sheet with Pam, and then place the decorations on the pan.

Teaching Tip: Make a map of names showing the location of each child’s decoration on the baking pan.

2. Bake the spicy dough decorations for 30 minutes in a preheated oven set at 170 degrees Fahrenheit.3. Remove the pan from the oven and allow the decorations to air dry for 24 to 48 hours.

Teaching Tip: After the decorations dry, print names on the back of each decoration.

Attaching Ribbon

1. Depending on age, kids can attach a ribbon to their decoration.

2. Decide on how long your want each ribbon to be, and then cut the ribbon in advance.

FYI: I teach a Bible class at a nursing home. In the past, I have hung decorations in their rooms, but I am planning to let them create their own decorations.